The increased surveillance of Singpass users' data by the police and other government agencies to pinpoint, investigate, and stop fraudulent use of the app has been met with a mix of concern and gratitude.
UK Government Initiatives to Address The Misuse of Singpass Credentials Globally
According to the story by The Strait Times, while necessary measures to combat fraudulent activities, particularly those in which citizens' hard-earned money and personal data are at stake, have been welcomed, the deeper question of where such resources should be spent has been posed.
It is not only in Singapore that the misuse of Singpass credentials has become a problem. Globally, unlawful activities such as phishing and money laundering utilizing digital identities have increased, and governments worldwide have responded.
For instance, two concurrent pieces of legislation were recently enforced in the United Kingdom - The Cyber Streetwise initiative and a Steering Group on Authenticators.
Enhancing Online Security for Businesses and Individuals
The former, part of the UK Government's wider National Cyber Security Programme, aims to increase online security for businesses and individuals by guiding various security topics, from basic awareness of scams to measures to guard against data breaches.
The Steering Group on Authenticators was formed to review current processes and determine possibilities for enhancing the security of digital accounts. In Singapore, the steps towards increasing Singpass surveillance are part of a larger effort to protect the nation's digital infrastructure better and contain the entry of money mules.
Parliament reportedly discussed phishing scams in February after a phishing scam affected hundreds of OCBC customers, per Channel News Asia.
The Singapore Government's Crackdown on Singpass Misuse
Consequently, those caught selling their Singpass details to scammers can face imprisonment for up to three years and a hefty fine of $10,000, as explained further by the official police force. The police have also warned about the possibility of scam callers utilizing the local phone prefix to mask their true identity.
Broadcast messages from phone networks such as Singtel caution the public against answering overseas calls with a '+' sign before the area code. In-built applications such as ScamShield flag suspicious calls based on a database of blocked contacts.
Ultimately, the fight against phishing, money laundering, and other unlawful activities necessitates an elevated level of reconnaissance by both the authorities and the public. The Singapore government's recent clampdown on Singpass misuse reflects this. With the police using data to pre-emptively thwart potential scams, the risk of becoming a money mule victim can significantly diminish.
Read Also: UK to Test Public Warning System, Nationwide Alert to Be Sent to Mobile Phones Soon
Be Wary of Unexpected Calls and Undisclosed Personal Information
Thus, individuals should remain vigilant and wary when receiving unexpected calls, as they are often a telltale sign of a scam. It is also important to never disclose personal information over the phone or online, particularly as fraudsters may have access to records actively traded on the Dark Web.
It can use the user's details to appear more credible. Instead, victims should hang up and call back the relevant numbers on their credit cards to validate the information.
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